Indicator



SEARGHIR'o-'OM l. C. MONTERO.

INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPI. IB, |913.

Patented Apr. 25, 1922.V

2 SIIllIS-SHET I.

@I1/mm 11 to:

vzii

` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUAN C. MONTERO. OF WASHINGTOLL' DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

INDICATOR.

actuated, electro mechanical indicating means: and its general'object is the provision of means. ol the character defined, designed Y to put a person in authority on notice regarding the quantity of' fluid in a tank and the stages of the fluid as the supply is depleted, this with a view to apprising Such person at. all times of the amount of fluid available and precluding the possibility of the supply of fluid being entirely exhausted through oversight on the part of' those in authority.

The invention is primarily designed for in- `stall-ation in motor vehicles and to inhibit any possibility of' the motorist failing to replenish the supply of' gasoline when the same is needed: and its novelty. utility and prac tical advantages will be fully understood from the following description and claims, when the same are read in connection with the drawings. accompanying and forming a. part of this specification. in which:

Figure l is a perspective. partlyin section, illustrative of the manner in which my improvement is installed in an automobile.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the general arrangement.

Figures 3 and t are diametrical sections taken at right angles to each other and showing the float casing and its contents.

Figure is an enlarged detailed diametrical section showing the construction adjacent to the upper end of said casing.

Figure 6 is a detailed plan of the head in said casing.

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken in the plane indicated in the line 7-'7 of Figure 3. looking downwardly.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detailed view showing the specific construction of the circuit breakers.

Figurs 9 and 10 are sectional views of a modification hereinafter explicity referred to; Figure 10 being taken in the plane indicated by the line 10-10 of Figurev 9, looking downwardly.

Referring by numeral to said drawings A and more )c l Specification of Letters Patent; I tented Apr. 25, 1922. Application le September 18, 1918. Serial No. 254,585.

particularly to Figures' 1 to 8 thereof:

1 is the dash of an automobile. 2, Figure 1, is the gasoline tank which may be located 1n the automobile at any point. compatible with .the purpose of my invention, and 3 is a casing` located, by preference, on the rear side of the dash 1 where it will be in plain vlew l of the automobile drivel'. 5() is a conductive casing arranged in and adapted to receive gasoline from the tank 2.

For the sake of convenience, I will first describe the general scheme of my invention in connection with the diagrammatic showing in Figure 2. By reference to said figure it will be understood that the casingr 5() is connected through a wire 4 (see also Figure 6) with one pole of a source of electric en-A ergy 5, and that the other pole of the source of energy is connected through a wire 6 with an incandescent electric lamp 7, which lamp 7 in turn, is connected through a. wire 8 with a terminal 9. Opposed to the terminal 9 and normally spaced therefrom is a terminal 10 of a float 11, supported by gasoline in the casing 50. By virtue of this provision it will be manifest that when the tank 2 and -casing are fully charged, the float 11 will be raised to carry the terminal 10 into contact with the terminal 9, whereupon the lamp will be caused to glow. The lamp 7 will remain lighted until the quantity of gasoline is diminished to an extent necessary to break the contact between the terminals 10 and 9, and from this it follows that so long as the lamp 7 glows the driver or other person in authority will be apprised of the fact that there is a full charge of gasoline in the tank in which the casingr 50 isdisposed.

In furtherance of my invention. a number of floats 12, 13, and 14 are associated with the float 11 in the casing 50, each of the said floats 12, 13 and 14 being provided with a terminal 15` and each terminal 15 being designed to be used in conjunction with a complementary individual terminal 16. I also provide a switch member 17 and an electric bell 18, said bell being electrically connected through a wire 20 with the opposite sideof the source of energy 5, with reference to the wire 4. A branch wire 19 is interposed between the member 17 and a switch member 32. In conjunction with the switch member 17 I employ a group of terminals 21, corresponding in number to i l i i i V tion of gasoline has been ltaken from the tank. Then when the bell sound to indi-4 the floats disposed in the casing 50, and I also employ a vsimilar number of circuit makers and breakers 22eacli of which is preferably of the construction shown in Figure 8. and ls made up of an electro-magnet 23, a swing armature and latch 24. spring pressed at 25. a gravitating annunciator 26, and a vertically swinging link 27 through the medium of which the annunciator is connected with the magnet frame. Each electro-magnet 23 is connected through a wire 28 with the terminal 21 complementary to the magnet, and in proper relation to each annunciator is arranged a resilient or otherwise movable terminal 29, which normally contacts with the annunciator, as indicated in full lines in Figure S and is electrically connected through a wire 30 with the terminal 16 complementary to the magnet.

When the electric lamp 7 ceases to glow, the automobile driver or other person in authority is apprised of the. fact that it is his province to place the switch member 17 in contact with the terminal 21 of the annunciator 22 that is complementary to the float 11. By virtue of this arrangement tion of when the quantity of gasoline in tank 2 is depleted to a certain extent and the terminal 10 of the uppermost float 11 makes contact with the ad] acent terminal 16, the rst magnet to the leftin 'Figure 2 will be energized and the bell 18 will be briefl sounded, and hence the driver will be in ormed that he has used up his first predetermined porsoline. The brief sounding of the bell 18 is due to the fact that when the electro-magnet is energized to attract theI armature 24, the gravitating annunciator 26 falls and moves the terminal 29 from `the position shown by full lines into the poswitch member 17 into contact witi the second terminal 21 towards the right so as to inform the driver when the second porcate the removal of the second portion, it is the province of the driver to swin the member 17 into contact with the thir terminal 21 towards the right, and then when the driver is informed of the removal of the third portion of gasoline it is his duty to move the member 17 into contact with the fourth and last terminal 21 towards the right. -When this latter duty is performed and the float 14 moves downwardly, incidental to the removal of the lowermost portion of gasoline from the tank, the electric bell 18 will continue to ring. This latter is due to the fact that the last electro-magnet 23 towards the right in Figure. 2 has one end of its helix connected directly through a wire 35 'with the terminal 16 adjacent to the terminal l5 of the float 14 and also has its opposite end connected through a wire 36 with the fourth terminal 21. In other words, the said last elmftro-magnet 23 towards the right in Figure 2 is notl combined with a terminal 29, and, conscquently, when said magnet 23 is energized the energization and the ringing of the hell 18 will continue until the circuit is broken by moving a switch member 31. The magnet 23 just referred to is shown at the right of Figure 2 as minus a terminal 29. Each of the gravitating annunciators hears a number, ras shown in Figure 2; the said numbers being arranged in regular scquence from left to right and being provided in order to inform the driver. of the particular float through which the particular circuit is completed for the ringing of the bell 18.

The switch member 31 normally contacts with a terminal 33, electrically connected at 34 with the side of the bell 18 remote from the conductor 20, so that the operator can stop the ringing of the bell 18 when desired.

For the purpose of conveniently resetting the circuit makers and breakers and to raise the annunciator members 26, I employ in conjunction with the several links 27 the resetting device clearly shown in Figures 2 and 8 as made up of a rock-shaft 40, having a handle 41 at one end and fingers 42, one for each link 27. Manifestly, when said shaft 40 is manually rocked in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 8 the several links 27 will be raised in concert to elevate the gravitating elements 26 and replace the same in engagement with th'e catches on the armatures 24.

When any one of the floats 11, 12, 13 or 14. drops suiciently to carry its terminal into contact with the adjacent stationary terminal the circuit will be from the plus pole of the source of energy through the wire 4, the casing 50, the particular iioat that brought about the contact, the terminal 16 complementary to said float, the wire 30 or 35, the terminal 29 adjacent to the magnet belonging to the' particular float, and from said magnet through the wire 23,

the terminal 21. the switch member 17, the

electric connection 19, the electric bell 13 there being metallic connections between all of the floats 11, 12, 13 and 14 on the one 130.

iff

hand and the said casin 50, on the other, as shown in Figure 4. T iis specific installation of my invention involves the provision or employment of a diametrical partition 51 in the easing, together with guide brackets 52 on said partition; the floats 11 and 13 being `disposed atone side of said partition, andthe floats 12 and 14. at the opposite side thereof. As shown m Fig- ,ures 3 and 4, there are metallic connections between the several floats and the metallic casing 50, and there is a direct metallic connection between the said casing 50 and the top of the tank 2. Figure 1. Thus the floats are grounded on the tank as indicated conventionally in Figure 2. T he stems of the Several floats are carried through large apertures 53 in the preferably flanged head 54 of the casing 5l), and below and above said head insulating plates 55 and 56 are suitably secured. It will also be noticed that the float stems are provided with hook-like terminals 10 and 15, corresponding to the terminals 10 and 15 of the showing in Figure 2, and that stationary terminals 16 corresponding to the terminals 16 of the Figure 2 are super-imposed and suitably secured on the upper insulating plate 5,6. Secured on the said insulating plate 56 is a terminal 9 corresponding to the stationary terminal 9 at--the left of Figure 2. On the head 54 which protrudes through the top of the tank 2 is a cap 60, having a 'central orifice 61, and through the said orifice are carried the several wires complementary to the stationary terminals,

- as clearly shown in Figures 1, 3 arid 4.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10 the casing 50a is slotted at two points, as indicated by T0. and contains a float 71. Arms 72 and 73 are ar ranged to play in said slots. atopposite sides of the float 71; the said arms being carried by a 'vertically movable rod T4. This rod is normally maintained in raised position by a spring 7 and is equipped with a terminal arm 76 bearing contact points T7 and 78. The said contact points are interposed between the arms of a U- shaped terminal member 79. The said U- shaped member 79 is connected through a wire S0 with an electric bell S1, and said bell 81.. in turn. is connected through a wire 82 with one pole of a. source of energy 83, and the opposite pole of the source of euergy is connected through a wire 84 with the casing 50a. It will also be noticed in Figure 9 that the lamp 7al is arranged in parallel with the bell 81 in the conductor 80, so that the lamp will be caused to glow eo-incident with the sounding of the bell. In the modified arrangement when the float is maintained in its uppermost position by a full suptly of gasoline in the tank containing the casing 50, the float will act L, n -1 y c n against the upper arm T2 and carry the upper contact 77 in engagement with the upper arm of the terminal 79, and, in consequence, the lamp 7 will be caused to glow and the bell 8l to rin until the level of the gasoline in the tank is lowered. When, on the other hand` the rfloat 71 is permitted by the depletion of the gasoline to move downwardly sutiiciently far to engage ne arm 73 and to depress the rod 74. against the action of the spring 75, the lower contact 76 will engage the arm 79 and the same result will be brought about.

It will be gathered from the foregoing that my novel indicator is calculated to preclude the possibility of an automobile driver or other person in authority forgetting to replenish the supply of gasoline in the tank when occasion demands; and I would also have it distinctly understood that while my improvement is designed primarily for use in'conjunction with the gasoline tank of an automobile, the improvement may be put to any other use to which it is applicable without involving departure from the scope of my invention as defined in my appended claims.

Then the capacity of function of my novel indicator is taken into consideration the simplicity of the apparatus will be fully appreciated; and it will also be noted that the apparatus embodies no delicate parts such as are likely to get out of order when subjected to the vibration and the shocks and jars usually attendant on the operation of an automobile.

Having described my invention. what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an electro-mechanical float indicator, the combination of a plurality of floats arranged to be controlled by different portions of liquid, a terminal on each float, terminals complementary to the Hoat terminals, a second terminal complementary to the terminal of the uppermost float, and arranged in a normally open electric circuit with a source of electric energy. the float and a lamp, and 'annuuciatorsu one to each float. arranged in a normally open electric circuit, with one of the second named terminals, a.source of elect-ric energy and an audible electric signal.

An electrical installation, comprising a movable switch member, a plurality of terminals complementary thereto, a plurality ofannunciatois. a second switch member, a terminal complementary thereto, an elec-l tric signal, a plurality of circuit closing devices` arranged in normally open electric circuits with a source of energy, the signal,

initially complete circuit with the souree of energy` the additional sional and one of the oatwontrolled circuit c 05ers. v

3. In an e-leetro-mechanical indicator of the Hoat type. the combination of a easing, a partition therein and provided with guides, floats arranged at opposite sides of said partition and in different horizontal planes, terminals on the floats, and terminals cooperating with the float terminals, respectively` on and insulated from the casing.

4. In an electro-mechanical indicator -of the float typex the combination of a casing, a partition therein, floats arranged in the easing at opposite sides of the partition and placed in diti'erent horizontal planes, terminals on the floats, terminals on the casing and insulated from the same; and an auxiliary terminal cooperating with the terminal of the uppermost oatmounted on the cas# ing in opposed relation to the first mentioned cooperating terminal.

In testimony whereof I atiix my si nature.

JUAN C. MONT RO. 

